Warrick Democrat chairman Terry White will challenge Bucshon

WARRICK COUNTY, Ind. - Rep. Larry Bucshon, a Republican elected to represent Indiana's 8th District in Congress last year, has his first Democratic challenger for 2012.

Terry A. White, an attorney and chairman of the Warrick County Democratic Party, has filed a statement of organization with the Federal Election Commission, a preliminary step toward mounting a congressional campaign.

White, 57, confirmed Thursday that he will run for the seat most recently held by Republican John Hostettler and Democrat Brad Ellsworth.

"I'm at the point in my life where I'm able to give back to the community a lot more. I've spent all my career basically protecting the rights and freedoms and safety of constituents (as an attorney in general practice) in this area, and I just want an opportunity to do it on a larger level," said White, who like Bucshon is a resident of Newburgh.

White's initial campaign flier makes no specific promises, describing him as a "fiscal conservative" and an advocate of "responsible, principled government."

"(White) stands for independence and equality for all, excellent schools and affordable health care, fighting drugs and crime, a strong military, functional roads and infrastructure, a clean environment, and helping the elderly live with dignity," it says.

"He values the rights of gun owners and the protection of those who cannot protect themselves. Terry is committed to safeguarding the middle and working class, the family farmer, improving our quality of life — preserving the American Dream!"

Bucshon campaigned last year as a conservative Republican determined to undo what he called the overspending and liberal excesses of Democratic President Barack Obama.

The first-term congressman, formerly a heart surgeon, issued a brief written statement through his re-election campaign.

"Congressman Bucshon is focused on representing the people of Indiana's 8th District and the issues they sent him here to solve, such as cutting out of control spending, repealing ObamaCare and creating jobs to get Hoosiers back to work," it said.

"The congressman applauds any person willing to run for public office, and he is looking forward to a spirited debate in 2012."

White said Bucshon, who was sworn-in in January, has already shown he is too divisive and polarizing for the 18-county 8th District, which stretches northward from Posey to Warren counties.

"He basically got swept in because of the (Republican political) tsunami that took place this past year, and I think I'm going to be a much more reasoned thinker in terms of representing people," White said.

"I see what's happening right now in the Congress in terms of the non-bending fights that you see from the Republican Party, and he's part of that. We all have to work together."

White, a partner in the Evansville law firm of Olsen & White, said he is committed to running regardless of how the Legislature redraws the 8th District in the once-a-decade redistricting process. That process, which began last month, is expected to conclude before the April 29 legislative adjournment.

White was a delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention that nominated Obama. A party activist for more than 40 years, he had supported then Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., for president.

White said he was approached to run for the 8th District seat last year, after Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh's bombshell retirement announcement just four days before the deadline for filing for congressional seats.

Ellsworth stepped in to run for Bayh's Senate seat, leaving his congressional seat open for election purposes.

"There's only so many windows of opportunity in the 8th District, because someone can get in there and stay for 8, 10, 12 years," White said then.